Iconic Queensland event to shift up a gear in its 30th year

With 2017 marking the 30th anniversary of the Great Endeavour Rally, it’s a double celebration for the disability support organisation after the event’s fundraising tally crossed the $10m line.

Teams for this year’s event accelerated their fundraising efforts to make the 2017 rally extra special but, with hopes of funding a sensory room, independent living technologies, creating beautiful outdoor living spaces and much more besides, say that there’s still time for the local community to get involved.

Queenslander Les Porter agrees, and says there’s nothing quite like the GER experience, so get on board!

“This year will be my 19th Great Endeavour Rally, and I only hope I live long enough to do a few more. Endeavour Foundation is an important part of the community so, for me, it’s always been about giving something back.”

Describing what motivates him to return year after year, Les said that the ‘friendship and the fellowship’ are unbeatable.

“The great people you meet on the rally and the welcome you get as you travel the country is what brings you back. It’s the only holiday I have every year and I thoroughly look forward to it. I’ve had hundreds of people say to me that they’re going to try it and, in response, I’d say to anyone thinking about it to just do it. Get your bum off the seat and get going. The rewards are absolutely unreal and you won’t regret it.”

Endeavour Foundation Events Manager, Paul Purcell, said that the fundraising efforts of teams signed up for the 2017 Great Endeavour Rally have taken the charity across a memorable line.

“$10 million is a lot of money, a whole lot of fundraising and an incredible degree of generosity. But, most importantly, it has funded innumerable opportunities for people with a disability.

“From building a new food handling facility with state-of-the-art equipment and funding wheelchair accessible vehicles, to creating sensory gardens and communication and education tools, the rally’s impact has been enormous.”

For dad, Jim Livingstone, seeing his daughter’s pride in her work and enjoyment of her friends, is reason enough to get ready to rally.

“Heather went on last year’s rally and had a ball. She smiled from ear to ear throughout – it was magic.

“We went along to watch the cars cross the finish line and, seeing the reaction and the fun that they were all having, made us think, ‘this a great thing to do, let’s just do it’. So this year my wife and I have entered our first ever rally. The car is getting there, slowly but surely, and we’re looking forward to just getting stuck in.

“We’re big supporters of Endeavour Foundation because Heather’s work at Wacol is so important to her – because it’s not just work, it’s the social element really. She’s going somewhere every day, she’s well looked after and she’s happy, and that’s what it’s all about.”

The 2017 event marks the 30th anniversary of the Great Endeavour Rally, and will see participants embark upon an 8-day ‘Coral Sea Adventure’ (9-17 June) from Yeppoon to Hervey Bay, via the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield Track.